Information Leaflet #13
A Householder’s Planning Guide for the Installation of Antennas, including Satellite Dishes
September 2006

Alternatives to Individual Antennas

If you live in:

• a tower block;
• a small block of flats;
• a terrace of houses; or
• a semi-detached house;

it may be possible to use shared antenna systems without the need for each household to install an individual antenna. There are several main alternatives to an individual antenna.

Shared Reception Systems

Shared antenna systems are worth considering if:

• planning permission is unlikely to be granted for several antennas on a single building;
• a shared system would be more environmentally friendly than for each home to have its own antenna;
• landlords or owners have banned individual antennas.

If you live in a tower block or a large group of flats or houses, you should first check what arrangements, if any, have already been made for a shared system.

You should always get professional advice to make sure the system you have chosen offers the best choice of programmes at a reasonable price and with the ability to accommodate future services.

If you live in a semi-detached or terraced house, it may be possible to develop a shared system, although this may be more expensive than installing individual antennas. You may also need legal advice on the conditions for sharing. In any event, you should make sure that any shared system provides access to all the programmes everyone wants.

The same planning regulations apply to shared antennas as apply to individual antennas.

The landlord or the building owner is responsible for deciding whether or not to allow the installation of a shared system. Any system installed should comply with the General Conditions of Entitlement. The General Conditions of Entitlement apply to anyone who provides an electronic communication service or an electronic communications network. It is important that providers understand the legal obligations which these conditions impose on them. Guidelines on the conditions are available from OFCOM and their address can be found at the end of this document.

Cable Networks

Cable networks can be another way of bringing satellite TV or broadband to your home.

You may want to ask your local planning office whether your area is served by cable television. This is particularly important if:

• your home or building does not have a line-of-sight⁶ with the relevant transmitter;
• planning permission for an antenna is not granted;
• a shared system is not practical;
• you do not want to have an antenna on the outside of your property.

⁶ Line of sight: Many antennas and all satellite antennas need to be able to receive signals from the transmitter without the signal being interrupted by trees or buildings etc.  Antennas which do not have line-of-sight to the transmitter will not receive signals correctly and will not function properly.

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